12 Life-Changing Beauty Hacks You Can Do With a Toothbrush

1. Spray the bristles of an old toothbrush with hairspray to help tame flyaways.

Elizabeth Griffin

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Since the bristles of each toothbrush are positioned so close together, they act as a super-tiny boar bristle brush. Spray the head of the toothbrush with hairspray and then brush any flyaways back to blend in with the rest of your hair.

2. Tame unruly brows by brushing them into place.

Elizabeth Griffin

Use the same method as the above flyaway step — spray the head of your toothbrush with hairspray to give your brow hairs some hold and brush them into place.

3. Mix water, lemon juice, and baking soda together to create a self tanner-removing cocktail. Then, use the toothbrush to help exfoliate away any dark spots.

Elizabeth Griffin

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Blend a cup of water mixed with a half cup of lemon juice and a tablespoon of baking soda. Dip a toothbrush in the mixture and gently exfoliate over areas where you applied too much self tanner. The lemon juice mixture will erase any spots that accidentally ended up too dark.

4. Make flaky lips smooth by applying a balm over your lips, and then exfoliating away any dead skin with a toothbrush.

Elizabeth Griffin

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Apply a balm over your lips, and then using circular motions, use the toothbrush bristles to slough off dead skin.

5. Clean your hair dryer's vent so it dries your hair more quickly.

Elizabeth Griffin

Lint caught in the vent of a hairdryer takes a toll on the motor since it's more difficult for the dryer suck in the air it blows onto your hair. Use a toothbrush to de-lint the vent so you can get out the door faster.

6. Use your toothbrush to tease your hair.

Elizabeth Griffin

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If you don't have a boar bristle teasing comb handy, use an old toothbrush to tease the hair at the crown of your head or the areas along your hairline to get instant volume in the places you want it most.

7. Use the bristles of an old toothbrush to clean any dirt from underneath your nails.

Elizabeth Griffin

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You might not have a nail brush handy, but chances are you have an extra toothbrush. Use the bristles to get dirt out from underneath your nails in seconds.

8. Clean up your cuticles with cuticle oil and a toothbrush.

Elizabeth Griffin

Not everyone has time to go to the nail salon every two weeks. Maintain cuticles by applying cuticle oil every night to keep them hydrated, and then once or twice a week, exfoliate any roughed up pieces of skin surrounding your nail bed with a toothbrush, using circular motions.

9. Create your own Jackson Pollock nail art look.

Elizabeth Griffin

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Grab a few toothbrushes and pick out the polishes you want to stipple onto your nails. Pour paint onto a paper plate, then dab the head of the first toothbrush into the polish (don't oversaturate it or you won't get the dot effect), and then tap the brush onto your nail haphazardly. Continue using these steps, switching out the toothbrush or cleaning it with polish remover each time, to finish the rest of the look, and then enjoy your Jackson Pollock-like mani masterpiece!

10. Get a textured braid by brushing your toothbrush in upward motions.

Elizabeth Griffin

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If you're all about texture (and who isn't?!), after you've braided your hair into a polished plait, take an old toothbrush and gently brush the bristles upward, creating an instantly roughed up, textured finish.

11. Use an old toothbrush to apply liquid hair chalk or highlights.

Elizabeth Griffin

Hair chalk can be messy, especially if it comes in liquid form, so apply it to your toothbrush first, and then brush it onto the strands you want colored. Also, if you want to highlight your hair — perhaps the few strands that frame your face — dip a toothbrush into your at-home blonde hair color or highlighting kit, and then brush it on strands.

12. Declump mascara.

Elizabeth Griffin

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If you ever swipe your mascara wand over your lashes and apply more formula than you were hoping for, use this trick: Pick up a new toothbrush (since it's going near your eye, you don't want to use an old toothbrush which could lead to irritation or infection) and run it through your lashes from root to tip. The bristles will grab the excess mascara for fanned-out, gorgeous lashes.

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